Evaluation of inulin and probiotic for broiler chickens/Avaliacao de inulina e probiotico para frangos de corte

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of growth promoter additives (prebiotic, probiotic and symbiotic) as an antibiotic replacement on the performance and carcass characteristics (prime cuts, organs and abdominal fat) in diets for broiler chickens 1 to 42 days old. A total of 384 birds were used, one-day-old, on a reused bed. A completely randomized design was used, with four treatments and six replications, namely: PRO - supplementation with probiotic (2 kg [t.sup.-1]), ANT--supplementation with antibiotics (flavomycin 10%--4 ppm and halquinol 60%--15 ppm), PRE--supplementation with prebiotic (5 kg [t.sup.-1]), SIMB supplementation with probiotic and prebiotic (2 and 5 kg [t.sup.-1], respectively). The probiotic used consisted of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus faecium and Bifidobacterium bifidum, and the prebiotic used consisted of inulin (chicory root extract). In the initial phase, the chickens fed diets containing probiotic and symbiotic had higher weight gain and total weight at 21 days. Supplementation with antibiotics in feed provided a lower feed intake at 1 to 21 days old. The growth promoters did not show an effect on the variables of performance, carcass yield and prime cuts studied in the phase from 1 to 42 days of age.